Coin-collecting apparatus for telephone services



F. W. HALL.

com GOLL'ECTING APPARATUS FOR TELEPHONE SERVICES May .10

Filed Nov, 28, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet FI GJ.

i U Grady? May 10,1927.

F.- w. HALL COIN COLLECTING APPARATUS FOR TELEPHONE SERVICES 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed Nov, 23. 1924 Inv/mm1, 'e derL'eh/lllldmffdlb.

\ 1,627,700 May lo 1927 F. w. HALL COIN COLLECTING APPARATUS FOR r'IJIJLEPHONE SERVICES Filed Nov.` 28. 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor. i Eedericl-WL'I/Liam HaLIL.

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F. W. HALL COIN COLLECTING APPARATUS FCR TELEPHONE SERVICES Filed Nov. 28, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Z/ f C i i j; i L l j -//y M 1 l j V4 fr: 6? 0 Patented MayV w:10, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT orifice FREDERICK WILLIAM HALL, F LONDGN, ENGLAND.'

COIN-COLLECTING `LEIARA'I'U FOR TELEPHONE SERVICE Application led November 28, 1924, Serial No. 752,732, and in Great Britain August 28, 1924.

The invention relates to coin collectors for. telephone services. or the kind wherein the inserted coin is held in what may be called a position of suspense, from which it can be caused to takel two alternatiife paths, namelya path to a till or coin recep tacle incorporated with the apparatus or a path whereby it leaves the apparatus and can be recovered by the person Who inserted it. 'In some devices of this kind, heretofore known the holder on which the in sorted money rests in the position of suspense is a balance arm, from which the money may be moved or projected to either of the alternative paths by a device, which may be called a coin projector, manually controlled by the subscriber by means of actuating devices accessible from outside the apparatus. The subscriber cashes in,

0 if he has received the required connection and desires to avail himself of it, or "cashes out if the connection is not obtained.

According to my invention the operation y ot cashing in" is initiated by an electrical device. which does not, however, supply the energy for movingr the moneyrto the cashiner m path, but releases a lockwhich has previous y restrained an automatic` coin projector `from projecting the coin to that path. In referring in this specification to coin in the singular, I use that term generally to cover also a plurality of coins constituting a payment for a call. I also 1n tend the term coin to cover tokens which resemble minted coins but serve only as a medium of exchange 'tor telephone services.

l may arrange that the coin acts on suitable coin signalling means, such as bells or prongs, to indicate its character or value to the exchange, the `use of this auxiliary device being contemplated more particularly in cases where extra payments may bey Called for. as for long distance calls. rllhere may, tor example, be a plurality of chores l'or accepting` coins of different denominations. associated with sound signalling4 devices which produce or transmit sounds ci dill'ercnt, distinctive characters.

An example ot' apparatus embodying my invention and designed for use. alternatively, with coins of three denominations.` is shown in the accompanyingc,l drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is anelevation of in the payboig,

Fig. 2 being a plan view of part of this mechanism.

Figs. 3 and 4 are diagrams of the electric circuits associated with the apparatus, t) Figure 5 is a transverse sectional eleva- '1on. f The mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is in practice enclosed in a box, which is not shown. At the top there is a plate with three coin slots a, c of different sizes, for

the respective coins, and the coins pushed through these slots travel down inclined chutes, d, e, j rpectively, and fall into the respective compartments g, la, c' of a coin carrier Ik: attached by screws Z to a quadrant which is suspended from a pivot Q1' and has a laterally projecting arm Q2 Weighted by a Weight Q3. In order to pass through the slot c, e or c, each coin must push aside a in Z" which projects into the chutes from a ever en, the purpose of which will be described hereinafter. Near the delivery ends ol the chuteso, and c, there are a gong n and a bell o, and fixed inside the bell there is a small auxiliary telephonie transmitter 7). A coin i assinp; from the chute d to the compartment o strikes a resilient yoke g lined to the bell. A coin passing from the chute e to the compartment strikes the bell itself, and a coin passing from the chute f to the compartment e' strikes the gong n. Thus each coin produces a sound of a dilerent character, and these sounds or audible signals are transmitted to the eX- change by the transmitter p for a purpose to be described hereinafter. At the bottom of the compartment z' the coin comes to rest on the bent end of a balance arm r, which is pivoted. at r1 and is Weighted by a Weight r2, so that the arm will be fully depressed to the bottom el a slot r3 in the frame by the Weight of the prescribed coin or coins. The bent ond. ot the balance arm 1' constitutes, in this embodiment of the invention, the device which I have referred to as the coin holder. holding the coin in the position of suspense.

The position in which the quadrant Q is shown in Fig. l is not the position Which it assumes normally by gravity, but is an unm the mechanism 'balanced or biased position in vwhich it is retained by a locking lever L engaging a projection L1 on the quadrant. The weight .j tends to swing the quadrant to the lett ot Fig. l. rlhe rocking of the quadrant to the unbalanced position in which it is abuts aGainst a screw s projecting from the relay O, whereby the said lever enlarged segmental end of a lever t, and thus rocks this lever, which is connected by a slotted link u to the arm Q1 of the quadrant Q), whereby the quadrant is moved to the unbalanced position in which it is shown in Fig. l, and is locked automatically by the lever After the passage of the coin the levers Z and are restored to normal position by a spring t' carrying a roller o1 which bears against the' segment.

rlhe lever L is t-he armature ot a polarized can be disengaged from the projection L1, to alloriv the quadrant to swing to the left of Fig. lq whereby the coin resting on the bent end ot the balance arm r is displaced from the said arm and projected into the cashing in chute w. The manner in which the relay is energized will be described hereinafter.

push-button fr projecting from one side o the bor; has a stem N1 workin in a dashpot b 3 and provided with a stu N3 engaging into a slot in a double armed lever y pivoted at e so that by pushing the button the lever is rocked and/one of its arms lifts the arm @f or1 the quadrant, and rocks the latter to the right of l. lf this is done the coin resting on the balance arm r is displaced from the latter and projected into the cashing out or refund chute w1, Whereby it leaves the box and can be 'recovered by the subscriber.

lt will be seen from Fig. l that the box mechanism includes a number of electric contacts, and l Will now describe the operation of the apparatus. with reference to these contacts and to the circuit diagrams in Figs. 3 and a. ln describing the operation I shall first assume that the quadrant Q is not locked by the lever L, and is in the position which it assumes by gravity, that is to say is swung, to the lett of the position shown in Fig. l.

The insertion ot a coin by the calling subscriber, temporarily closes a pair ot contacts E?, 9 by means of a stud la on the lever t. rhis temporarily short circuits the subseribers transmitter Y. and the link u swings the quadrant Q towards the right o't Fig. l; when the coin has cleared the pin l the levers my and i return to normal position` the short circuit is broken. and the quadrant swings bat-li towards the left, but is retained in the position shown in Fig. 1, by the locking lever L. The depression of the balance arm by the coin causes a lever r* projecting from the balance arm to close a pair of contacts l and rlhen the remo al ot the receiver R from the hook establishes a circuit from the battery B through the line A, one half of a bridging coil and contacts l and 2 to earth, exchange being thus called. The` operator plugs in the answering jack 1),' operating the cut-olf relay E, and can then take the call. On being informed of the call required she plugs in the calling jack F and rings up the called part-y.V lVhen the called party lifts his receiver from its hook, current flows along his line, actuating the supervisory relay G on the calling side, which closes the circuit of an auxiliary relay H in the shunt of the supervisory lamp. This closes the circuit of a reversing relay J, which reverses the current in the line on the answering side, and causes the polarized relay O to disengage the lever L from the quadrant Q, so that the latter, swinging by gravity, projects the deposited coin into the chute w. By so swinging, the quadrant arm Q2 closes a pair of contacts 5, 6, which short circuit the polarized relay.

Should an attempt be made to prevent the cashing in movement of the quadrant, by pressing a coin or implement against the pin Z', and thus restraining the quadrant by means of the link il, that action, bv closing the contacts 8 and 9, will short circuit the transmitter, so that the instrument will be rendered unavailable for speaking.

ln the event of the call being ineffective, the subscriber presses the button and swings the quadrant to the right, causing it to project the coin into the refund chute '101. The movement of the button allows a pair of contaetslO, l1 to open, and close a pair of contacts 12, 13, which earth the coil ot a holding relay M; this keeps the circuit lisconnected till the operator has cleared the As has already been mentioned, each coin inserted into the box strikes either the bell 0 or the gong n. lVith normal payments the signal thus given is of no utility, because it is given before exchange has been called, but in the case of extra payments called for by the exchange operator, as for example for a long distance call, the signal enables the operator to cheek the payment.

lllliat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is l. ln coin collecting apparatus for telephone scrvices the combination of a coin chute, an automatic movable device for projecting coins into said chute, an automatic locking device Jfor restraining said coin pro-` jector trom projecting; coins into said chute adapted to move by gravity to deposit the coins, and electrically actuated means for releasing said coin projector. i Y

2. In coin collecting apparatus for teleu phone services the combination of a coin 5 holder, a coin chute, an automatic movable device for projectingY coin; from said coinv holder into said chute adapted to move by rarity to deposit the coins` an automatic ocki'ng device for restraininof said coin projector from projecting coins into said chute, and electrically actuated means for releasing said coin projector.

3. In coin collecting means for telephone services the combination of a coin holder, an intake chute for delivering coin to said coin holder. a coin chute for rccciving coin from said coin holder, a second chute arranged to receive coinlrorn said coin holder, a coin projector adapted automatically to project coin from said coin holder into the lirst n1ent-ioned chute adapted to move by gravity to deposit the coins, an automatic lockingr de vice for restraining said coin projector trom projecting coins into said first mentioned 4^chute, electrically actuated means for un locking said locking device', and manually ope 'ated means for operating;r said coin projector to project coin from said coin holder to the second chute.

LL In coin collecting means for telephone services the combination of a coin holder, an intake chute `tor delivering,lr coin to said coin holder, a coin receptacle for receivingr coin from said coin holder, a refund chute arranged to receive coin from said coin holder, a gravity operated coin projector adapted automatically to project coin from said coin holderto said receptacle, an auromatic locking device for restraining said coin projector from projecting coins into said receptacle, electrically actuated Ameans for unlocking said locking device, and manually operated means for restorincY said coin projector to the position of restraint after the automatic coin projectingT operation.

5. In coin collecting means tor telephone. services the combination of a coin holder, an .intake -chute for delivering coin to said coin' holder, a coin receptacle for receivingF coin from said coin holder, a refund chute arranged to receive coin from said coin holder, a lriavity operated coin projector adapted automatically to project coin `trom said coin holder to said receptacle1 au auto- `matic lockingY device tor restraining said.

6. In coin collecting apparatus for telephone services the combination ot' a pivotally suspended coin carrier, an automatic locking device for locking said coin carrier in an unbalanced position, a coin support m for retaining coin in said carrier in said unbalanced po.ition, and electrically actuatahle means for unlockingY said loclrinpr device.

i'. ln app: atus t'or the mrpose ret J[forth the combination ota teleplionc transmitter, a coin holder, an intake chute for delivering coin to said coin holder, a chute for receiving coin from said coin holder, a coin projcctor adaptedV automatically to project coin from said coin holder to said receiving chute,r an automatic locking device tor restraining said coin projector from projecting coin to said receiving chute, electrically actuated means for unlockingr said locking device, and means actuatable by insertion of a coin into S5 said intake chute for restoring said coin projector to the position of restraint Aand for rendering said transmitter temporarily inoperative.

8. In a coin collecting apparatus for telephone services, a pivoted coin projector adapted to more by gravity to a given position, means for moving said projector away from said given position, means for intro ducing.,Y a coin into Said project-or, detent means `for holdingr said projector away from said given osition, and electromagnetic means contro ling said detcnt means.

El., Ina device of the class described, a coin l projector adapted to beenergised Toy the. insertion of a coin, a coin holder adapted to temporarily hold the coin, electromagnetic means for effecting movement of the pro jector to cash in a coin, and manually controlled means for moving the projector to return the coin l0. In a device of the class described, a coin projector adapted to he energized by the insertion of a coin, a coin holder below the coin projector and adapted to retain the coin therein, electromagnetic means for effecting movement of the projector to cash in a coin, and manually controlledy means 'for'movingf the projector to return the coin.

ll. ln a device ot the class described, a coin projector in the 'form ot a coin chute havin; Y means adapted to he energized by the insertion et a coin, a coin holder adapted to temporarily hold the coin,electromagnetic means for effecting movement of the projector to cash in a coin. and manually controlled means for moving' the projector to return the coin.

l2. ln a device of the class described. a coin projector adapted to he energized by the insertion ot a coinL1 a coin holder adaptcr'l to temporarily hold the coin` electromagnetic means 'for cllcctiug movement ol" the projector to cash in a coin` manually controlled means Alor moving the projectlir to lili) lio lilo

lil

return the coin and circuit-changing means controlled by movement of the projector.

13. In a device of the class described, a coin projector adapted to be energized by the insertion of a coin, a coin holder adapted to temporarilv hold the coin, electromagnetic means for effecting movement of the projector to cash in a coin, manually controlled means for moving the projector to return the coin. and circuit-changing means controlled b v movement ot' the coin holder.

14. In a device ot the class described and in combination a movable coin projector in the form of a chute, a balanced coin holder adapted in a given position of the projector to retain a coin therein, releasable means for retaininr the projector in said given position, electromagnetic means for controllingr the movement of the projector from said given position to cash in a coin and manually controlled means for moving the projector from said given position to return the coin to the operator.

l5. In a device of the class described, a pivoted coin projector adapted to return to a given position when moved therefrom and to be moved from said given position by the insertion of a coin, a coin holder adapted to temporarily hold the coin, electromagnetic means for controlling movement of the projector to cash in a coin` and manually controlled means for moving the projector' to return the coin.

16. In a device of the character described and in combination, a coin projector adapted to be moved to a given position by the in sertion of a coin and tending when so moved to return to its normal position, a detentdevice adapted to retain said coin projector in said given position, a coin holder adapted to temporarily7 hold the coin in the coin projector when in said given position, electromagnetic means for controlling the movef ment of the projector one way from said given position to cash in a coin and manually controlled means for moving the projector the other Way to return the coin to the operator.

l?. In a device of the character described and in combination, a coin Alprojector adapted to be moved to a given position by the insertion of a coin and tending when so moved to return to its normal position, a detent device adapted to retain said coin projector in said given position. a balanced coin holder adapted to temporarily hold the coin in the coin-projector when in said given position, electromagnetic means for controlling the movement ot the projector one way from said given position to cash in a coin and manuall \y controlled means for moving the projector the other way to return the coin to the operator.

18. In a device of the class described, a coin projector adapted to be energized by the insertion o't' a coin, a coin holder adapted to temporarily hold the coin, electromagnetic means including a polarized relay for ettecting movement of the projector to cash in a coin, and manually controlled means for moving the projector to return the coin.

19. In a device ot the class described, a pivoted coin projector adapted to be energized by the insertion of a coin, a pivoted return lever operatively connected to the coin projector and manually operable means for actuating the said return lever, electromagnetic means for effecting movement of the projector to cash in a coin, and manually controlled means tor moving the projector to return the coin.

20. In a device of the class described, a coin projector adapted to return to a given position when moved therefrom, a coin lever adapted to be actuated by the insertion of a coin and operatively connected to the coin projector and designed to move the coin projector to said given position and thereby energize the sume upon the insertion of a coin, a coin holder adapted to temporarilv hold the coin, electromagnetic means for etfectinr movement of the projector to cash in a coin, and manually controlled means for moving the projector to return thecoin.

21. In a device of the class described, a

pivoted coin projector, a coin lever adapted to be operated by the insertion of a coin, a lost-motion connection between the coin lever and the coin projector, acoin holder adapted to temporarily hold the coin, electromagnetic means for e'ecting movement ot the projector to cash in a coin, and manually controlled means for moving th projector to return the coin.

22. In a device of the class described, a coin projector adapted to return to a given position when moved therefrom, a coin lever adapted to be actuated by the insertion of a coin and operatively connected to the coin projector and designed to move the coin projector to another given position and there y energize the same upon the insertion of a coin, a coin holder adapted to temporarily hold the coin, electromagnetic means for effecting movement ot the projector to cash in a coin, manually controlled means for moving the projectorjto return the coin and circuit-changing means operated by the coin lever.

23. In a device of the class described and in combination, a pivoted coin projector` a coin lever adapted to be moved by the insertion of a coin and operatively connected to the coin projector being designed to move the said coin projector to an energized position. a coin holder adapted to temporarily hold the coin in said projector, electromagn netic means for effecting movement of the projector to cash in a coin, manually controlled means for moving the projector to ,neamoo f return the coin, circuitchanging means operated by the coin projector, circuit-chang- L 24.In a device of the class described, a-

pivoted coin projecto` having coin chutes for a yplurality of' coins, a coin holder adapted to Atemporarily hold ya mim-electromagnetic means for effecting movement of' the projector to cash in a coin, and manually controlled means for moving the projector.

to return the coin.

25. In a device y of the class described, a plurality of coin chutes, a pivoted projector aving a plurality of compartments corresponding to thecoin chutes, a coin holder adapted to temporarily hold "`a coin, electro! magnetic means for effecting movement of the projector to cash in a coin, and manu ally controlled means for movingthe projector to return the coin.

26. In a device-of the class described, a

lurality of coin chutes, a pivoted projector avin a plurality of compartments correspondlng to the coin chutes, a coin holder adapted to temporarily hold a coin, electromagnetic means for effecting movement of the projector to cash in a coin, manually controlled .means for moving the projector to return the coin, a single coin lever extending across all of the said coin chutes designed to be operated by the insertion of a com by the coin lever.

27. In a. device of the class described, a

coin projector adapted to be energized by the insertion of va coin, a coin holder adapted to temporarily hold the coin, electromagnetic means for effecting movement of the projector to cash in a coin, manually controlled means for moving the'projector to return the coin, a -coin lever designed to be actuated by the insertion of a coin and circuit-changing .means actuated by said coin lever. i

28. The combinationv with a telephone sub-station for a calling ,line and a sub-station for a called line and a usual supervisory. circuit, of a coin-controlling device includin a coin projector adapted to be ener iz by the insertion of a coin, a coin ho der adapted to temporarily hold the coin, means controlled by the supervisory circuit for effecting movement of the projector to cash in a coin, and manually controlled means for moving the projector to return the coin.

29. The combination with a telephone substation for a calling line and a sub-station for a'called line and a usual supervisory circuit, of a coin-controllin device including a coin projector adap to be energized by the insertion of a coin, a coin holder adapted to temporarily hold the coin, means and circuit-changing means operated' controlled by the supervisory circuit for ef fecting movement of the rojector to cash in a coin, said means inclu mg a polarized re* lay, and manually controlled means for moving the projector to return the coin.

30. In a device of the class described, a

lcoin projector inthe form of a loaded quad-v rant adapted to be energized by the insertion of a coin, a coin holder adapted to temporarily hold the coin, electromagnetic means for efiecting movement ot' the projector to cash 1n a coin, and manually controlled means for moving the projector to return the com.

3l. In a device of the class descrbied, a coin projector adapted to be energized by the insertion of a coin, a pivoted coin holder designed to be depressed by a given number of coins, electromagnetic means for effecting movement of the projector to cash in a com, manually controlled means for moving the projector to return the coin and circuit-changing means operated by movement of the coin holder.

32. In a device of the class described, a coin projector adapted to be -energized by the insertion of a coin, a coin lioldeadapted to temporarily hold the coin, electromagnetic means for eHecting movement ofv tie projector to cash in a coin, manually controlled means for moving the projector to return tbe coin, and sound signalling means o )erated by the passage of the coin through kt e device.

.33. In a. device of the class described, a. coin projector adapted to be energized by the insertion of a coin, a coin holder adapted to temporarily hold the coin, electromagprojector to cash in a coin, manually controlled means for moving the projector to return the coin,` sound signalling means'operated by the passage of the coin through the device, and an auxiliary transmitter for :gid sound signalling means.

` 34. In a device of the class describedand in combination, a coin chute, a pivoted coin projector adapted to return to normal position when moved therefrom and designed to be moved to a given position by the insertion of a coin, a detent device adapted to retain they projector in said given position, electromagnetic means for releasing said detent, a pivoted coin holder adapted to temporariljl hold the coin in the projector when in sai given position, circuit-controlling means actuated by movement of the projector, and circuitcontrolling means operated by movement of the coin holder.

35. In a device of the class described and in combination, a coin chute, a pivoted coin projector adapted to return to normal position When moved therefrom and designed to be moved to a given position by the instartion of a coin, a detent device adapted to Ineens actuated movement of the coin holder, and manually controlled 'means for moving the projector to return the coin.

In witness whereof I have signed this specifieatlon.

FREDERICK WILLIAM HALL. 

